Territorial Review Copenhagen - Region Hovedstaden

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with a further EUR 220 million invested in capital/infrastructure projects.
Generally, this was due to inaccurate forecasting of expenditure and income,
and low sponsor engagement and sponsorship income.
How far the legacy of the event has been incorporated into the cultural
infrastructure, marketing and arts scene is less evident a decade later. This in
part related to the location of new facilities, but also their programming and
connection to the network of creative producers, artists and audiences that
support these venues. Transport and pedestrian access to the new waterfront
venues is one issue, accessibility is another (the Opera House building is for
example closed on Sundays). Both result in under-use and poor connectivity
to the city centre and visitor flows. The focus on a culture-based experience
economy which seeks to engage the corporate sector in event, entertainment
as well as other industries is reinforced through hosting of annual and major
events and festivals. In 2009, the City of Copenhagen will host the second
World Outgames, the UN Climate Change Conference and a Fashion
Summit.
The opportunity to host further major events is under consideration. The
Lord Mayor of Copenhagen has announced the possibility of hosting the
EXPO in 2020, and some actors are considering whether Copenhagen
should become a candidate for hosting the 2024 Olympics. This may build
on previous events, notably City of Culture 1996, and regeneration-led event
strategies adopted in other city regions. Capacity and infrastructure to
support major international events will be of fundamental importance,
particularly the spatial scale and identity (Copenhagen, Capital Region,
Sjaelland, Øresund), as well as connectivity and the distribution of activity
and facilities. Popular support will also be key, as will private sector
sponsorship and risk-sharing, given the financial burdens created by many
such events, including Copenhagen 1996. The rationale, political, economic
and cultural, will also need to be clearly articulated. In regeneration-led
projects, critically, legacy planning will be as important as the event theme
and delivery itself, as contemporary mega-events such as EXPO, Olympics
and City of Culture have shown.
Global events as an urban amenity
Considerable effort has been put into branding Copenhagen
internationally. Active work of Copenhagen Capacity (for attraction of
foreign direct investment) and Wonderful Copenhagen (for attracting
tourists) has increased awareness about Copenhagen among targeted groups.
A Copenhagen brand book has been released containing a strategy to attract
knowledge workers to Copenhagen, by focusing on knowledge-intensive
niches and presenting Copenhagen as a city where interesting work can be